Say, "NO!" to Procrastination

School work has normally been easy for me; I never had to study for tests and exams. I procrastinated on assignments until the night before they were due; and this strategy worked: typical “A” student. My honors and even Advanced Placement classes were an “easy A.” Procrastinating worked for me, until I got to college of course. This should be a stage where I know what study habits work for me, but I find it difficult to achieve A’s. Although college has many resources that make academic achievement possible, we study independently, and the responsibility is yours to excel academically. Most students believe, “Oh it’s only your first year, you have time to figure out the ropes and improve your GPA.” Do you really? The demands of success are at an all time high, and to be successful today you need at least a Bachelor’s degree, or have some type of “talent.” Those who are realist like me, we know we will never be Carrie Underwood or Beyonce’ so we went to college. Outside of class time and in class assignments, students are usually required to do at home projects or homework assignments: the thing most dreaded by students. I found an article from the online journal Behavior Modification titled “Increasing the On-Task Homework Behavior of Youth with Behavior Disorders Using Functional Behavioral Assessment.” The research discussed in this journal refers to the positive correlation of homework and learning. If done, homework and other assignments give students, in college or middle school, extra practice to learn material taught in the classroom. That’s no secret; the work wouldn’t be assigned if not. Yet there are too many students with the same “A student” mindset that I had who feel they can wait until the last minute or they can ace an exam based off of memory and crossed fingers. The online journal discusses how students escape the demands of schoolwork while trying to maintain their expected grades.

In the Behavior Modification article, there was a study done on children with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) because they have an inability to stay “on-task” and are easily side tracked. These disorders include ADHD, anxiety, OCD, and depression. These students have difficulty staying engaged in assignments, remembering tasks, and time management. Teachers are concerned that their students do not complete out of class assignments because according to researchers, homework improves attitudes towards school, builds study habits, and allows the child’s parents to get involved with their child’s education. Though staying focused may be a challenge for the students with disorders, but it is possible. Students struggling from such can discover ways to improve their behavior by taking a functional behavior assessment (FBA).


As a word of advice from myself to others struggling from procrastination or what-have-you, think about the bigger picture. Think about how doing well in school will only benefit and broaden your future. I personally saved my screensaver to my dream car as a small way of motivation. I know if I want to be successful, I need to do well in school to have a great career.

http://bmo.sagepub.com/content/32/6/840